Radio daily (Feb-Mar 1937)

Thursday. February 25. 1937 RADIO DAILY 3 n * commEnTS * * On Current Programs SARNOFF OUTLINES TOSCANINKS PLANS (Continued from Page 1) called a press conference of this nature. Sarnoff answered all questions and revealed whatever plans had been made to date. Also present at the conference was NBC President Lohr, John Royal, program department head, and George Engels, manager of the Artists Service. Sarnoff stated that Toscanini was signed only for 10 concerts to be started in December, with no definite time set for the exact starting date, the day nor time of day the concerts would be heard. Whatever time is arrived at, every effort would be made to avoid conflict with existing organization whether the New York Philharmonic Symphony, Boston, Philadelphia or any other orchestra then on the air. Toscanini will receive $4,000 net for each of the 10 broadcasts, with NBC also paying the income tax on the gross amount. (Maestro, however will pay on the amount NBC pays as his income tax.) This will entail additional costs of facilities, and payment of the musicians. The NBC Symphony Orchestra of 45 men will be augmented with the best available to either 78 or 88 all told. Possibilities of a choral group was also mentioned by Samuel Chotzinoff, music critic who closed the deal abroad for NBC. Otherwise no soloists have been provided for as yet. Total cost to NBC for the 10 concerts is figured to reach the $125,000 mark, or more. One concert a week is the schedule, strictly as an NBC sustaining. Two outside concerts at Carnegie Hall or some other spot may be played by Toscanini for the benefit of whatever organization the maestro chooses. NBC concerts will be held in studio 8 H which holds 1,500 people, method of ticket distribution is undecided, but it is believed that music students and some schools will come in for a share. Prime interests, Sarnoff pointed out, is the vast radio audience, rather than the small studio gathering. All Toscanini doings during the 10 week period in question will be exclusively for NBC. While the maestro will not be sold commercially during these weeks, Sarnoff stated it was up to the maestro to decide whether he would commit himself to a commercially sponsored broadcast thereafter. Other NBC and RCA officials present included: Clay Morgan, Wayne Randall, Frank Mullen, Tom Joyce, Vance Babb. "Hit Parade" Additions American Tobacco Co., New York (Lucky Strike cigarettes), adds WFEA on March 3 and WIRE on March 10 to its "Hit Parade" halfhour on the NBC-Red each Wednesday night. FIBBER McGEE, with Molly, Ted Weems' orchestra and others, had an unusually hilarious half-hour on Washington's Birthday over the NBC-Red Network. A visit by Uncle Ezra provided one of the highlights. Humor was snappy, spontaneous and side-splitting, and there was plenty of it. THRILLING DETECTIVE DRAMAS, thrice-weekly night feature over WMCA, had a punchy melodrama, "Kick-Back," on Monday night. Based on the current racket probe, it dramatized the ruthless activities of gunmen and higher-ups who prey on little business men, exacting tribute for alleged protection. DILL TOBACCO program, over WABC on Monday, had Tito Guizar and the Landt Trio doing entertainment honors, along with the Kreuger orchestra, while Pick and Pat vacation in Florida. The pinch-hitters did themselves credit. It is about time, though, that this program got rid of the hard-of-hearing guy who keeps asking, "Did you say ten cents?" JACK PEARL had Morton Bowe in for some pleasing vocalizing on his Monday night program over WJZ. The Baron Munchausen and his sidekick, Cliff Hall, wear very well on the air, and their show is always a WAAB Show Steals Show Boston — An innovation in auto salesmanship in the form of an actual radio broadcast starring well known radio artists stole the show at Boston's annual Washington's Birthday Open House for automobile dealers. The C. E. Fay Co., Chrysler-Plymouth dealers, sponsor a regular Sunday show, "Fay-vorite Melodies," starring Danny Dennis, tenor; Perry Lipson, guitarist, and Milton Brody, pianist. For the Open House, the whole cast was transported to the C. E. Fay Co. show rooms at 730 Commonwealth Ave., from which point their regular program was presented to the air audience, through WAAB. The public was invited to come in to watch the broadcast. New Orleans Commercials New Orleans — William B. Wisdom Inc., announces the following commercials placed: Brown's Velvet Ice Cream, twice daily over WBNO, two 15-minutes sports broadcasts with Jack Halliday spieling. Eureka Homestead, United Homesteads and Bohn Motors, spots daily over WSMB. lively half-hour. A salute, too, to Tommy Dorsey's orchestra. GRACE MOORE, making her first appearance on the air this year via the General Motors concert Sunday night, was in excellent voice, despite her recent illness. Miss Moore sang a program of two parts, opening with the "Louise" aria and "Musetta's Waltz" from "La Boheme." The second group included "Vissi d'arte" from Tosca," "The Old Refrain," and, as an encore, Jerome Kern's "Our Song." The diva's radio airing came simultaneously with the nation-wide release of her new motion picture, "When You're in Love." JOHNNIE of the Phillip Morris program on WABC was home abed last Saturday night, so the show had to go on without him. The program's dramatic portion, labeled "Circumstantial Evidence," put on by Charles Martin, was a decided improvement over the previous week's initial offering. Both writing and staging were better. QUESTION BEES are almost beginning to stumble over each other. Two of them followed each Saturday night, though on separate networks. Uncle Jim's Question Bee ran over WJZ, 7:30-8 p. m., while Prof. Quiz and Bob Trout went on at 8-8:30 over WABC. The latter formerly were an afternoon attraction. What's more, a deterioration is noted in the nature of the questions. WMBH Joins Press Service WMBH, Joplin, Mo., recently joined the United Press Radio News Service and is taking full advantage of the news reports. In addition, the station staff prepares three full length news periods on local happenings. The news service has H. D. Robards as editor, with Phil Hannum as night editor. The whole staff joins in when an opportunity comes to dramatize an event of particular interest to the city. Recently a story about a former Joplin man who is now a movie star enabled the staff to go into an impromptu dramatization that was well liked. 12 Years as Announcer Boston — Carlton Dickerman, the oldest announcer from the point of service among local radio stations, celebrated his 12th year as an announcer yesterday. He is senior announcer at WEEI. Edes Giving Radio Course Boston — Arthur F. Edes, connected with radio for the past 14 years and at present program director for WEEI, is giving a course at Emerson College on "Radio Speech and the Technique of Broadcasting." RIGHTS TO PATENTS ASKEDJY A.T.&T. (Continued from Page 1) Erpi and the film companies provides that the latter give the phone company and its subsidiaries rights to any development within the sound picture field, the making of sound picture records and of reproducing apparatus. After months of consideration by the legal staffs of the companies, the agreement is now before the executives for review. There is likelihood that the movie company heads will demand some changes before signing the agreements. Vocanews Will Air News, Canned Music {Continued from Page 1) flash, a loudspeaker system designed to broadcast news and sport events with only occasional breaks for music. There is no sponsored time sold on the Teleflash set-up. Present headquarters in New York are located at 1770 Broadway. Korb Shifted West A. H. Korb, WGY (Schenectady) studio engineer, has been transferred to the NBC Hollywood studios, with P. F. Narkon being added to the WGY staff in his place. Narkon comes from Buffalo. LEADS IN ROVING REPORTERS